Tile feeding apparatus for depositing tiles on tile boards



April 2, 1968 w. c. WATSON 3,375.567

TILE FEEDING APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING TILES ON TILE BOARDS Filed Nov. 8,1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORZ BY WAYNE C. WATSON ATTYS Apnl 2, 1968 W.c. WATSON 3,375,567

TILE FEEDING APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING TILES ON TILE BOARDS Filed Nov. 8,1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR2 BY WAYNE C. WATSON Z6 I WW ATTYS- April2, 1968 w. C. WATSON 3,375,567

TILE FEEDING APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING TILES ON TILE' BOARDS Filed Nov.6, 196

Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOFU WAYNE C. WATSON ATTYS.

April 2, 1968 w. c. WATSON TILE FEEDING APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITIN TILES ONTILE BOARDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov.

INVENTORZ WAYNE C. WATSON ATTYS' 3,375,567 Patented Apr. 2., 19683,375,567 TILE FEEDING APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING TILES N TILE BOARDSWayne C. Watson, Ambler, Pa., assignor to American Olean Tile Company,1116., Lansd'ale, Pa., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 8, 1965,Ser. No. 506,643 16 Claims. (Cl. 29-211) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In atile feeding apparatus for successively depositing rows of tiles in thetransverse rows of pockets of partitioned tile boards, the tile feedingapparatus including means for moving a partitioned tile board along apredetermined path to successively advance the transverse rows of tilepockets into a tile-receiving position, an improved tile feed headassembly positioned above the traveling tile board for depositing rowsof tiles in the tile pockets and conveyor means for continuously feedingparallel lines of tiles into the feed head. The tile feed head assemblycomprises a plurality of downwardly arcuately curved tile feed channelsproviding sliding passage of parallel lines of tiles from the conveyorto a substantially vertical position, means for maintaining the tiles inabutting'edgetoedge relation in the feed channels, and tile ejectingmeans for successively ejecting rows of tiles from the tile deliverystation and depositing the rows in successive transverse rows of pocketsof the tile board. Movement of the tiles through the feed channels iseffected both by movement of succeeding tiles on the conveyor means andby gravity force.

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for assemblingceramic tiles in sheet form and relates more particularly to a tile feedhead for depositing tiles in the pockets of continuously movingpartitioned boards or trays.

Ceramic tiles are customarily packaged in sheet form wherein arectangular array of spaced tiles is held in position by a papersupporting sheet glued to the tile faces.

Such a tile sheet is applied to a wall or fioor by setting the tiles incement, the supporting sheet providing the proper spacing and alignmentof the individual tiles. The paper sheet is then soaked and removed, andthe spaces between the tiles are filled with cement grouting.

During production of the tile, the paper sheets are most readily appliedby arranging the tiles in the pockets of partitioned boards or trays,each of which may, for example, have twelve longitudinal rows andtwenty-four transverse rows of pockets. In my United States PatentNumber 3,172,525, issued Mar. 9, 1965, apparatus is shown wherein tileboards of this type are continuously advanced by suitable conveyorsaround a circuit which includes a tile filling station, a supportingsheet applying station, a dryer, a cooler, and a delivery station. Amachine for filling continuously moving tile board is shown in UnitedStates Patent Number 3,177,568, issued Apr. 13, 1965, assigned with thepresent application to a common assignee. One section of the apparatusof the latter patent, termed a tile feed section, serves to transfertiles from a tile orienting and aligning section into tile pockets oncontinuously moving tile boards. This tile feed section is characterizedby an inclined ramp having channels formed thereon by vertical dividingstrips along which tiles are advanced by upper and lower sets ofrollers. The tiles are positively driven along the ramp by the rollersand dropped onto stacks at the end of the ramp, from which stacks thelowermost row of tiles are ejected into the pockets of the tile boardsmoving continuously therebeneath.

Although the above-described tile feed arrangement has operatedeffectively to fill tile boards, a number of shortcomings of thearrangement have become evident during such operation. The power feed ofthe tiles along the ramp has caused several problems, a primary onebeing the jamming of tiles in the channels. Sand and tile chipsfrequently become lodged in the channels or on the rollers causing notonly tile jamming, but in some cases scratch.- ing of the tile faces.Frequent cleaning of the rollers and channels has thus been required,and the entire tile production line must be halted to permit thiscleaning operation. It has moreover been extremely difiicult to freejammed rows of tiles from this feed section because of the complexity ofthe tile advancing and guiding structures.

A further disadvantage of this prior tile feed arrangement is the mannerof the stacking of the tiles one atop the other and the sliding removalof the bottom row of tiles. The dropping of the tiles on stacks tends tomar the faces of the preceding tiles as does the sliding removal of thelowermost tile layer. In addition, should a tile stack become in somemanner disoriented due to a chipped or faulty tile, a tile may bedeposited on a tile board in a tilted or cocked position, and it is evenpossible that more than one tile might be fed into a single pocket.

The present invention provides a tile feed head which overcomes theseveral described disadvantages of the prior structure and it is aprimary object of the invention to provide a tile feed head whichutilizes the tile advancing force of a tile infeed conveyor in additionto gravity force to move the tiles through the tile feed channels intoposition for depositing in the tile boards, thereby eliminating poweredroller drives and the tendency of such mechanisms to jam the tiles inthe tile channels.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tile feed headas described which maintains the tiles in abutting edge-to-edge relationso that the tile faces are not contacted by adjacent tiles.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a tile feed head asdescribed, the tile feed channels of which may be readily opened foraccess to the tiles and for cleaning of the unit.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tile feed headas described which provides a positive, accurate feeding of tiles intothe tile board pockets, thus eliminating the chance of tiles becomingtilted or cocked on the tile board.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be more readilyapparent from the following detailed description of an embodimentthereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a tile feed head in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial front elevational view of the tile feed head of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view taken along line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view partly in section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view partly in section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are partial side elevational views partly in sectionshowing the manner in which the tiles are ejected from the tile deliverystation of the feed head into the pockets of the tile board.

Referring to the drawings, and specifically FIG. 1 thereof, a tile feedhead 10 in accordance with the present 3 invention is positioned toreceive tiles from a tile infeed conveyor 12 and to deliver the tilesinto the pockets of partitioned tile boards 14 which are continuouslyadvanced therebeneath upon the horizontal chain conveyor 16. The tilesare advanced from a flat horizontal disposition at the upper infeed end18 of the feed head to a vertical, edge-wise disposition at the tiledelivery station 20 thereof from which the tiles are discharged into thepockets of the tile boards 14 by a reciprocating ejecting mechanism 22.The tiles at all times during travel through the feed head aremaintained in an abutting edge-to-edge relation to avoid contact of thetile faces with adjacent tiles. The tiles travel through downwardlyarcuately curved feed channels with which the infeed conveyor istangentially aligned, this arrangement permitting tile movement throughthe feed head to be effected by a combination of the pushing force ofthe succeeding tiles advanced by the infeed conveyor and thegravity'force acting on the tiles in the arcuate feed channels. A powerdriving of the tiles is unnecessary in this feed head structure, thuseliminating the primary cause of jamming of the tiles in the prior feedhead units.

Considering the present apparatus in detail, a frame 24 includes spacedlongitudinal angles 26 which support the horizontal table 30. Spacedparallel rails 32 extending longitudinally on the table support theroller chains 34 of the chain conveyor 16 on which the tile boards 14are continuously advanced. The tile boards each include a woodenrectangular body portion 36 beneath which are secured spaced transversebattens 38 which rest on the 1 chains 34. Spaced longitudinal battens 39extend between the transverse battens 38. The upper surface of the bodyportion of the board is covered by a metal sheet 40 in which are set aplurality of partitions 42 which form the tile pockets. A peripheralborder strip 44 defines the edges of the tile pockets which adjoin theboard edges. The boards are advanced on the chain conveyor by means ofdogs 46 located at spaced intervals along the chains, the dogs engagingbolts 48 adjustably mounted on depending brackets 50 on the bottoms ofthe boards. The boards are maintained in proper alignment on theconveyor by the spaced parallel angle guides 52 secured to the table 30.

The tile feed head 10 is supported over the board conveyor by a supportarrangement which includes angles 54 extending outwardly from the angles26 at each side of the apparatus and on which are mounted the supportingblocks 56. Forward and rear support arms 58 and 60 extend upwardly fromeach of the supporting blocks 56, the forward support arms being securedto the horizontal plate 61 bolted to the top of the supporting blockswhile the rear support arms are bolted in slots 62 in the supportingblocks. The rear support arms 60 terminate upwardly in inwardly directedshoulder plates 63 between which is secured the transverse slide platesupport member 64. The forward support arms 58 are similarly providedwith angularly disposed shoulder plates 66 and 68 to which thetransverse slide plate support members 70 and 72 are respectivelyattached.

A slide plate 74 extending transversely above the board conveyor is of adownwardly arcuately curved configuration having a short substantiallyhorizontal run 75 immediately above the support member 64. The slideplate is supported by the support plate 64 as well as the supportmembers 70 and 72, the latter support members including spacing elements76 to accommodate the arcuate curve of the plate. Secured to the uppersurface of the slide plate are a plurality of parallel longitudinallyalinged Wear strips 77 between which are secured the thin vertical tiledivider strips 78. The wear strips and divider strips on the slide plateform a plurality of downwardly arcuately curved tile feed channels whichare adapted to provide sliding passage of parallel lines of tiles from asubstantially horizontal disposition adjacent the infeed conveyor 12 toa vertical, edgewise disposition at the tile delivery 4 station 20. Asshown in FIG. 4, the feed channels in the horizontal run 75 are notparallel for reasons set forth below.

The infeed conveyor 12 includes an endless conveyor belt 80 supported bythe longitudinally extending belt support plate 82. The conveyor beltpasses around conveyor belt rolls 84 at opposite ends of the supportplate 82, the rolls being mounted on shafts 86 journalled in bearings88. Drive means (not shown) are provided for selectively setting thespeed of the conveyor belt 80. Tiles are advanced by the infeed conveyorin parallel lines which are maintained by the metal divider strips 90positioned in parallel alignmentabove the conveyor beltby the transverseframe elementQZySpring fingers 94 extending from the frame element 92over the edge of the adjoining feed head slide plate wear strips insurea smooth transition of the flow of lines of tiles from the infeedconveyor to the feed head. The infeed conveyor is tangentially alignedwith the arcuately curved portion of the feed head tile channels topromote a smooth flowing movement of the tiles through the channels. Theslide plate 74 and wear strips 77 are beveled asshown adjacent thedischarge end of the conveyor belt 80 to provide a substantiallyuninterrupted support surface for the tiles.

In order to retain the lines of tiles in the feed head tile feedchannels, guide elements 96 parallel to and spaced from the wear stripsare provided. The guide elements are centered over the divider strips 78and, in order to permit a ready removal thereof for access to the tilechannels, are divided into two groups, the upper guide elements 98 andthe lower arcuate guide elements 100. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, theupper guide elements are adjustably bolted to overlying transverse guideelement support bars 102 and 104 which are mounted at one end thereof tothe hinge element 106 hingedly connected at 108 to the hinge plate 110on the transverse support member 64. The opposite ends of the bars 102and 104 are attached to the angle 112 adapted to seat on the supportmember 64, being selectively secured thereto by the latch assembly 114.For access to the tile channels, the latch assembly 114 is releasedpermitting the upwardly pivotal movement of the guide elements as shownin the broken line illustration at 116.

As shown in FIG. 4, the tile feed channels along. the horizontal run 75of the feed head are not truly parallel but fan outwardly to accommodatethe wider spacing of the tile channels of the infeed conveyor 12. Asshown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the ends 118 of the guide elements 98 adja-.cent the infeed conveyor are upwardly inclined to clear the beveled endsof the conveyor divider elements 90 and i to provide in conjunction withthe spring arms 94 an orderly How of tiles into the feed head.

The arcuately curved guide elements 100 are mounted I on the transverseguide element support bars 120 and 122, the ends of which are secured tothe angles 124 and 126 which seat respectively on the support members 70and 72 at each side of the unit. The angles, and hence the bars 120 and122, are removably secured to the support members by the stud and thumbscrew arrangements 128 and 130 which coact with slots 131 of the angles.U-pon loosening of the thumb screws, the guide elements 100 may becompletely removed from the machine;

Extending horizontally beneath and spaced from the discharge end of thetile feed channels is the tile stop plate 132 which is supported justabove the conveyed.

tile boards in a manner described in detail herebelow. As shown mostclearly in FIG. 9, individual tiles 133 on passing from the dischargeend of the feed channels reach. the tile delivery station 20 at whichpoint the tiles are in a vertical edge-wise disposition with the loweredge of each tile resting on the stop plate 132 while the upper edge hasnot yet cleared the lower end of the feed channel wear strip. The tiledivider strips extend forwardlyat their lower ends in wing portions 134aligned by the; transverse rod 136, the wing portions assuring the continned alignment of the tile elements as they are discharged into thetile board pockets.

In order to maintain the tiles in the tile delivery station until theyare positively ejected into the tile boards, spring fingers 138 arepositioned to bear against the face of the tiles to resiliently supportthe tiles on the stop plate. The spring fingers 138 are mounted on atile support bracket assembly 140 which includes a transverse springfinger support plate 142 to which the spring fingers are bolted. Thetension of the individual spring fingers may be controlled by theadjusting screws 144 on the plate 142. The plate 142 is secured at eachend thereof to a vertical support arm 146 pivotally attached at 148 to abase plate 150 on the plates 61. During operation of the feed head, thetile support bracket assembly 140 is held in the vertical operativeposition by the latches 152 pivotally mounted on the posts 154 andcoacting with the pins 156 of the support arms 146. To permit removal ofthe guide elements 100 and for cleaning the lower portions of the feedchannels, the tile support bracket assembly is pivoted outwardly to theposition shown at 158 i of FIG. 3. Inclined adjustable stop arms 160extending from the base plates 150 support the tile support bracketassembly in the open position.

The tile ejecting mechanism 22 includes a plurality of spaced paralleltile ejecting fingers 162, said fingers having beveled tips 164 forcontacting and inclining the tiles 133 upon movement of the ejectingfingers into the tile delivery station as shown in FIG. 10. The ejectingfingers extend from a transverse plate 166 which is pivotally connectedat 168 to the arms 170 of a reciprocating drive mechanism. The drivemechanism includes a rotatable shaft 172 having an eccentric cam 174attached'thereto and an eccentric strap 176 secured to the arms 170. Asshown in FIG. 6, the shaft 172 is journalled in pillow blocks 178mounted on the support blocks 56 at each side of the machine. Rotationof the shaft 172 by an appropriate drive means (not shown) will in awell known manner provide a reciprocating movement of the ejectingfingers 162.

The ejecting fingers are held in a substantially horizontal plane byguide fingers 180' secured to the plate 166 at each side of themechanism. The guide fingers 180 are supported on rollers 182 mounted ona transverse support plate 184 extending across the full width of themachine. Guide rollers 186 journalled on shafts 188 located above theguide fingers 180 insure the proper horizontal reciprocating movement ofthe ejecting fingers. The stop plate 132 which supports the tiles in thetile delivery station is bolted beneath and extends forwardly from thesupport plate 184. g

For operation of the feed head, the empty tile boards are advanced onthe chain conveyor at a continuous rate beneath the tile deliverystation 20. The infeed conveyor is supplied in a known manner with linesof tiles which are fed into the feed channels of the feed head. Thelines of tiles are moved through the feed channels by a combination ofgravity force acting on tiles in the arcuately curved portion of thehead and by the movement of succeeding tiles on the infeed conveyor. Theinfeed conveyor should be driven at a speed sufficient to establish acon veyor tile advance rate slightly in excess of the tile deposit rateof the feed head thereby maintaining the tile feed channels filled withtiles in abutting edge-to-edge relation whiel causing a slight slippageof the conveyor with respect to the lines of tiles. The tile guideelements and divider strips prevent escape or misalignment of the tilesin the feed channels.

The tiles upon reaching the tile delivery station 20 are ejectedtherefrom in rows by the ejecting fingers 164 as shown in FIGS. 9 and10, the rows of tiles being positively and accurately dislodged fromtheir resiliently held position on the stop plate into the tile pocketsof the tile boards. The drive means controlling the ejecting fingers 164is coordinated with the speed and position of the moving tile boards,for example, in the manner shown in the aforementioned United StatesPatent Number 3,177,568, to insure that rows of tiles will only beejected when a tile board is present in the proper position beneath thetile delivery station. Automatic means for halting the machine andsounding an alarm in the event all of the feed channels are not filledwith tiles may also be provided similar to that described in the abovepatent.

Changes in details of construction may, of course, be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in andlimited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a tile feeding apparatus for successively depositing rows of tilesin the transverse rows of pockets of partitioned tile boards, andincluding means for moving a partitioned tile board in continuous,substantially horizontal travel to successively advance the transverserows of tile pockets thereof into a tile-receiving position, a tile feedhead positioned above said traveling tile board adapted for depositingrows of tiles in the transverse rows of tile pockets as said pockets areadvanced to the tile-receiving position, and conveyor means forcontinuously feeding parallel lines of tiles into the feed head; animproved tile feed head comprising means defining a plurality ofdownwardly arcuately curved tile feed channels adapted to providesliding passage of parallellines of tiles from a position adjacent saidconveyor means to a substantially vertical disposition at the tiledelivery station thereof, said conveyor means being tangentially alignedwith said arcuate feed channels, means for maintaining said tiles inabutting edge-to-edge relation in said feed channels and insubstantially vertical disposition adjacent the tile delivery station,and tile'ejecting means for successively ejecting rows of tiles from thetile delivery station of said feed head and depositing said rows in thesuccessive transverse rows of pockets of said tile board, the movementof tiles through the feed channels of said feedhead being effected bothby the movement of succeeding tiles on said conveyor means and bygravity force.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tile feed channelsinclude guide elements parallel to and spaced from the channel slidesurfaces to retain the tiles in said channels.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means formaintaining said tiles in abutting edge-to-edge relation in said feedchannels comprises feed control means for said conveyor means adapted topermit a tile advance rate of said conveyor means in excess of the tiledeposit rate of said feed head and a resultant slippage of said conveyormeans with respect to said parallel lines of tiles.

4. The invention as claim in claim 1, said feed head including a tiledelivery station comprising a stop plate extending beneath and spacedfrom the discharge end of said feed channels, and spring means forresiliently supporting the tiles in a vertical position on said stopplate, said tile ejecting means being adapted to eject said tiles fromsaid spring means into the pockets of said tile boards.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 4 wherein said tile ejecting meanscomprises a plurality of connected ejecting fingers adapted for movementbetween the discharge end of-said feed channels and said stop plate, andmeans for actuating said fingers in a reciprocating manner coordinatedwith the speed and position of said tile board to eject successive rowsof tiles from the tile delivery station into the tile board pockets.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 4 including means permittingremoval of said feed channel guide elements and said delivery stationspring means to provide access to said feed channels.

7. In a tile feeding apparatus for successively depositing rows of tilesin the transverse rows of pockets of partitioned tile boards, andincluding means for moving a partitioned tile board in continuous,substantially horizontal travel to successively advance the transverserows of tile pockets thereof into a tile-receiving position, a tile feedhead positioned above said traveling tile board adapted for depositingrows of tiles in the transverse rows of tile pockets as said pockets areadvanced to the tilereceiving position, and substantially horizontalconveyor means for continuously feeding parallel lines of tiles into thefeed head; an improved tile feed head comprising a downwardly arcuatelycurved tile slide plate extending from adjacent said conveyor means to atile delivery station proximate said traveling tile board, a pluralityof parallel tile dividers on said slide plate, said tile dividersforming a plurality of tile feed channels on said plate adapted toprovide sliding passage of parallel lines of tiles from a substantiallyhorizontal disposition adjacent said conveyor means to a substantiallyvertical disposition at said tile delivery station, said conveyor meansbeing tangentially aligned with said arcuate tile slide plate, means formaintaining said tiles in abutting edge-to-edge relation in said feedchannels and in substantially vertical disposition adjacent the tiledelivery station, and tile ejecting means for successively ejecting rowsof tiles from the tile delivery station and depositing said rows in thesuccessive transverse rows of pockets of said tile board, the movementof tiles through the feed channels of said feed head being effected bothby the movement of succeeding tiles on said conveyor means and bygravity force.

8. The invention as claimed in claim 7 wherein said tile feed channelsinclude guide elements parallel to and spaced from said tile slide plateto retain the tiles in said channels.

9. The invention as claimed in claim 8 wherein said means formaintaining said tiles in abutting edge-to-edge relation in said feedchannels comprises feed control means for said conveyor means adapted topermit a tile advance rate of said conveyor means in excess of the tiledeposit rate of said feed head and a resultant slippage of said conveyormeans with respect to said parallel lines of tiles.

10. The invention as claimed in claim 7, said feed head tile deliverystation comprising a stop plate extending beneath and spaced from thedischarge end of said slide plate, and a tile support assembly includinga plurality of spring elements arranged to resiliently support the tilesin a vertical position on said stop plate.

11. The invention as claimed in claim 10, wherein said guide element andsaid tile support assembly are pivotally mounted so as to swing awayfrom said slide plate to provide access to said tile feed channels.

12. The invention as claimed in claim 10, said tile ejecting meanscomprising a plurality of ejecting fingers adapted for movement betweensaid slide plate and said stop plate, said fingers having beveled tipsfor contacting and inclining said tiles upon ejecting thereof from saiddelivery station, and means for actuating said fingers in areciprocating manner coordinated with the speed and position of saidtile board to eject successive rows of tiles from the tile deliverystation into the tile board pockets.

13. In a tile feeding apparatus for successively depositing rows oftiles in the transverse rows of pockets of partitioned tile boards, andincluding means for moving a partitioned tile board in continuous,substantially horizontal travel to successively advance the transverserows of tile pockets thereof into a tile-receiving position, a tile feedhead positioned above said traveling tile board adapted for depositingrows of tiles in the transverse rows of tile pockets as said pockets areadvanced to the tilereceiving position, and conveyor means forcontinuously feeding parallel lines of tiles into the feed heads; animproved tile feed head comprising means defining a plurality ofdownwardly arcuately curved tile feed channels adapted to providesliding passage of parallel lines of tiles from a position adjacent saidconveyor means to a 8 substantially vertical disposition at the tiledelivery station thereof, said conveyor means being tangentially alignedwith said arcuate feed channels, means for maini taining said tiles inabutting edge-to-edge relation in said feed channels, and tile ejectingmeans for successively ejecting rows of tiles from the tile deliverystation of said feed head and depositing said rows in the successivetransverse rows of pockets of said tile board, the movement of tilesthrough the feed channels of said feed head being effected both by themovement of succeeding tiles on said conveyor means and by gravityforce, said tile ejecting means comprising a plurality of ejectingfingers having beveled tips for contacting and inclining said tiles uponejecting thereof from said delivery station, and means for actuatingsaid fingers in a reciprocating manner coordinated with the speed andposition of said tile board to eject successive rows of tiles from thetile delivery station into the tile board pockets.

14. In a tile feeding apparatus for successively depositing rows oftiles in the transverse rows of pockets of partitioned tile boards, andincluding means for moving a partitioned tile board in continuous,substantially horizontal travel to successively advance the transverserows of tile pocket-s thereof into a tile-receiving position, a tilefeed head positioned above said traveling tile board adapted fordepositing rows of tiles in the transverse rows of tile pockets as saidpockets are advanced to the tilereceiving position, and substantiallyhorizontal conveyor means for continuously feeding parallel lines oftiles into the feed head; improved tile feed head comprising adownwardly arcuately curved tile slide plate extending from adjacentsaid conveyor means to a tile delivery station proximate said travelingtile board, a plurality of parallel tile dividers on said slide plate,said tile dividers forming a plurality of tile feed channels on saidplate adapted to provide sliding passage of parallel lines of tiles froma substantially horizontal disposition adjacent said conveyor means to asubstantially vertical disposition at said tile delivery station, saidconveyor means being tangentially aligned with said arcuate tile slideplate, means for maintaining saidtiles in abutting cdge-to-edge relationin said feed channels, and tile ejecting means for successively ejectingrows of tiles from the tile delivery station and depositing said rows inthe successive transverse rows of pockets of said tile board, themovement of tiles through the feed channels of said feed head beingeffected both by the movement of succeeding tiles on said conveyor meansand by gravity force, said tile ejecting means comprising a plurality ofejecting fingers adapted for movement relative to said slide plate, saidfingers having beveled tips for contacting and inclining said tiles uponejecting thereof from said delivery station, and means for actuatingsaid fingers in a reciprocating manner coordinated with the speed andposition of said tile board to eject successive rows of tiles from thetile delivery station into the tile board pockets.

15. In a tile feeding apparatusfor successively depositing rows of tilesin the transverse rows of pockets of partitioned tile boards, andincluding means for moving a partitioned tile board in continuous,substantially horizontal travel to successively advance the transverserows of tile pockets thereof into a tile-receiving position, a tile feedhead positioned above said traveling tile board adapted for depositingrows of tiles in the transverse rows of tile pockets as said pockets areadvanced to the tilereceiving position, and conveyor means forcontinuously feeding parallel lines of tiles into the feed head; animproved tile feed head comprising a tile slide plate extending fromadjacent said conveyor means to a tile delivery station including a stopplate extending beneath and spaced from the discharge end of said slideplate, means for maintaining said tiles in abutting edge-to-eclgerelation on said slide plate, and tile ejecting means for successivelyejecting rows of tiles from the tile delivery station of said feed headand depositing said rows in the succesive transverse rows of pockets ofsaid tile board, the movement of tiles being effected both by themovement of succeeding tiles on said conveyor means and by gravityforce, said tile ejecting means comprising a plurality of ejectingfingers adapted for movement between said slide plate and said stopplate, said fingers having beveled tips for contacting and incliningsaid tiles upon ejecting thereof from said delivery station, and meansfor actuating said fingers in a reciprocating manner coordinated withthe speed and position of said tile board to eject successive rows oftiles from the tile delivery station into the tile board pockets.

16. In a tile feeding apparatus for successively depositing rows oftiles in the transverse rows of pockets of partitioned tile boards, andincluding means for moving a partitioned tile board in continuous,substantially horizontal travel to successively advance the transverserows of tile pockets thereof into a tile-receiving position, a tile feedhead positioned above said traveling tile board adapted for depositingrows of tiles in the transverse rows of tile pockets as said pockets areadvanced to the tilereceiving position, and conveyor means forcontinuously feeding parallel lines of tiles into the feed head; animproved tile feed head comprising means for delivering 10 said tiles inabutting edge-to-edge relation to a tile delivery station proximate saidtraveling tile board, tile ejecting means for 'sucessively ejecting rowsof tiles from the tile delivery station of said feed head and depositingsaid rows in the successive transverse rows of pockets of said tileboard, the movement of tiles being effected both by the movement ofsucceeding tiles on said conveyor means and by gravity force, said tileejecting means comprising a plurality of ejecting fingers having beveledtips for contacting and inclining said tiles upon ejecting thereof fromsaid delivery station, and means for actuating said fingers in areciprocating manner coordinated With the speed and position of saidtile board to eject successive rows of tiles from the tile deliverystation into the tile board pockets.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,315,166 9/1919 Semashko 292113,162,937 12/ 1964 Schweiker 29-211 3,177,568 4/ 1965 Schweiker 292 113,302,278 2/1967 Whitney 29200 THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

